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Excerpt from Bonobo Handshake by Vanessa Woods, plus links to reviews, author biography & more

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Bonobo Handshake by Vanessa Woods

Bonobo Handshake

A Memoir of Love and Adventure in the Congo

by Vanessa Woods
  • BookBrowse Review:
  • Critics' Consensus (8):
  • First Published:
  • May 27, 2010, 278 pages
  • Paperback:
  • Jun 2011, 288 pages
  • Reviewed by BookBrowse Book Reviewed by:
    Kim Kovacs
  • Genres & Themes
  • Publication Information
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About this Book

Print Excerpt


And right there and then, I wanted to fold myself up like a letter and deliver myself to his hands.

Despite my best efforts, the next morning I was naked and in bed with him. I squeezed my eyes shut to delay facing the opponent I'd given in to with such pitiful resistance.

I opened my eyes a little, so I could just see him through my eyelashes. He was watching me, a crooked smile tugging at his lips. I pulled up the sheet to cover myself, but frankly, it was a little late for such modesty.

"You asshole," I whispered. "You took advantage of me."

"You took advantage of me."

We grinned at each other stupidly.

"You've ruined my career," he said. "Debby's never going to let me work here once she finds out about this."

"What about me? I'm never going to live it down."

"I don't care. It was worth it."

"No, it wasn't. Get out of my room. Quick, before anyone knows you're here."

He left on the third day. We said good-bye at the airport security gate. I had to pretend I didn't care. Falling in love with someone straight after you have sex is so not cool.

He waved and smiled. I did my best to smile and wave back.

Well, I thought as I walked out the door, guess I won't be seeing him again.

Excerpted from Bonobo Handshakeby Vanessa Woods. Copyright © 2010 by Vanessa Woods. Reprinted by arrangement with Gotham Books, a member of Penguin Group (USA), Inc.

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